Kerala - Kochi

Supplyco gears up for Onam

– Photo: H. Vibhu

Fair price: The Metro Onam People’s Bazaar opened in the city on Monday.

KOCHI: The public sector Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation Limited (Supplyco) has made extensive arrangements to cater to demands of the public during the Onam season.

For the first time Supplyco has evolved a concept called People’s Bazaar by tying up with various other public sector units like Kerala Coconut Growers Cooperative Federation, Milma, Kerala State Horticultural Products Development Corporation Limited, Kerala Poultry Development Corporation, Meat Products of India etc.

“The idea is to make available all the products needed by the public under one roof,” Yogesh Gupta, Managing Director of Supplyco, told The Hindu.

So, earlier if groceries and vegetables were the only items available through the Supplyco outlets during Onam, now there are also a variety of products including textiles and electronic goods at reasonable prices.

Metro Onam People’s Bazaars were opened at Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur and Kozhikode on August 5.

Public Works Minister T.U. Kuruvilla inaugurated the metro bazaar here on Monday. State Government adopted strong measures to avoid price rise during this Onam season, the Minister said. He said opening of Supplyco stalls was part of market intervention initiatives by the Government to control prices of essential commodities.

“We are aiming at generating a sales turnover of Rs.100 crore during this Onam,” Mr. Gupta said. Going by the sales at the Kozhikode people’s bazaar alone, where sales proceeds in excess of Rs.1 lakh were registered from day one, the target set was very much achievable, he said.

Onam Town People’s Bazaars, relatively smaller in size compared to Metro bazaars, will be launched in Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Thodupuzha, Alappuzha, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kannur, Kasaragod, Kalpetta and Thripunithura on August 17.

Mr. Gupta said Supplyco would operate more stores during this Onam compared to last year.

Stores selling groceries and vegetables would be opened in 130 Assembly segments on August 22, M.A. Vincent, Supplyco’s public information officer said. Besides, separate Onam counters, known as Mini Fares, will be opened at Supplyco’s 867 Maveli Stores, 228 Labham markets, and 11 super markets spread across the State for five days from August 22.

Supplyco is targeting to sell 2,000 metric tonnes of vegetables, including 1,000 metric tonnes of raw banana, during this Onam, Mr. Vincent said. He said that 29 categories of vegetables would be made available through Supplyco stores and that the price charged would be at least 15 per cent less than what is charged in the open market.

In order to promote people’s participation Supplyco has organised a lucky dip contest for purchases made for Rs.500 or above from its Onam fares and purchases worth Rs.300 or more from its Maveli stores. “We will be distributing 6,500 prizes during this Onam,” Mr. Gupta said. The first prize is a Maruti Alto car.

Supplyco has announced the price list of essential items on August 1 and the pricing of products would be made accordingly at the Onam fares, Mr. Vincent said.

Supplyco has opened a cell in its head office to monitor the operation of its stores. The public sector undertaking is also hopeful of generating more demand for its home brands Sabari coffee and Sabari curry powders, which were recently launched in the market, during this Onam.

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